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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Thank you Tucson poster!  
To the extent that a child finds math fun (some do) I think algebra could be taught to 3rd graders.  Is your concern that too many kids feel pressured to take advanced math who don't particularly enjoy it and find it soul-crushing?

Also, is it your sense that the drift toward the Chinese model is occurring at the Tucson school or at all the Arizona schools?[/quote]

I agree it is surprising what intrinsic motivation plus culture of achievement plus competent instruction/guidance can accomplish. My child in many respects has risen to the challenge in amazing ways (especially since in public school in 4th grade she really in comparison was in glorified day care), albeit with extreme counseling and support by the parents.

The concern I am trying to express is about the bigger picture, not just any one class. I believe that the cumulative academic load placed on students from day 1 at our campus, especially combined with the day to day speed of coverage, is simply not optimal for all but most gifted and dedicated students. It throws kids and parents out of balance, and causes stress, loss of sleep, loss of play time and out of school activities. Can it be managed? Absolutely. But in my opinion at a needless and sad cost. If a kid is thriving doing calculus in 9th grade then great. But colleges don't want or expect that, and nor is it necessarily in the best long term interests of most children emotionally and intellectually to push as far as possible as fast as possible in all subjects at the same time. So it is a matter of opportunity costs and emotional costs of the extremely rigorous content and test based curriculum that upsets me. I am all for elevated expectations, and AP tests are groovy... but not so damn many and not when taking the tests are seen as an ultimate academic end in and of themselves!!! It is useful to secure our News & World Report ranking but not much else! In high school there should be in my opinion at least the choice to take a balanced course load of several APs and several "light / fun" classes. There are no light / fun classes really at our school. And in middle school sure it is fine to amp up math and maybe science but there really ought to be more focus on creativity and wonder and confidence and exploration.

I cannot really speak with much experience about the other schools. I have been called out perhaps with reason on careless language so I'd also retire "Chinese model" since I actually don't know much about the reality of Chinese education. What we have in Tucson is the Olga Block model. It places virtually all focus on content mastery as evidenced by standardized tests (whether in-house comps or APs). And at its core is simply lacks a soul. The teachers are bitter. The students are fried. There is a heaviness saturating the campus... and again this can often be overlooked because the students and teachers are so amazing and awesome things do happen every day in every classroom.

Also, in terms of accelerated content, maybe math is somewhat unique since it is essentially at their level an abstract mental game. Deficiencies in the accelerated model are much more apparent in science, for example, where content really requires more than memorization and manipulation of facts. Instead of memorizing the definitions of gravity, friction, velocity, etc. for his quiz tomorrow, shouldn't he be exploring / experiencing scientific questions in a meaningful way? Again, pedagogic experts will disagree, and last time I checked I don't own any charter schools so its like it or lump it for me. I just think it is a shame because BASIS Tucson has attracted an awesome student body and faculty. It could be so much more. [/quote]

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